The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-14
Proposed Amendments to the Re-
vised Statutes.
A Petition In Behalf of York Harbor
and Beach Railroad.

A Petition In Behalf of York Harbor
and Beach Railroad.
Newsy Notes Waited from the State
Capital.
Especial Despatch to the PREss.)
AUGUSTA, Jan. 13-The business of the
Legislature has now fairly begun. The
prospect is that great deal of work will be
done. Both House and Senate have the ad-
vantage of officers who are thoroughly quail
ified for their work, and the effect of this is
plainly apparent. Mr.. Marble is serving his
third consecutive term in the Senate, and is
thoroughly conversant with his duties. Cen
Tilden, the clerk, and Mr.. Dunbar, his as
sistant clerk, are also perfectly fitted for
their duties by previous experience. In the
House Clerk Fessenden and Assistant Clerk
Cotton nave both served previous Legisla-
lure, tSae, ana SO are thoroughly familiar with
tneir uutles. In the most important respect
also, in the selection of its speaker the
d oqse has been very fortunate. Mr.. Little
neld does his work swiftly and unhesitating-
~, ana decisions and rulings are made with
the sharpness and suddenness which keeps
49, s.SoSlhbAy dWdhC dilu UIutIly. ESPECIALLY
In the House much depends on the speaker
ana his assistants; in fact the speaker does
tne whole work except in cases where there
is division of opinion. So the advantage
OF having live man in the speakers chair
Is Is very great one. 1t will contribute much
towards getting off the large amount of work
which is promised from all quarters.
Maine historical Society.
An act to authorize the Maine Historical
Society to provide for its perpetuity and the
preservation of its cabinet and library has
been drawn up by Hon. j. w. Bradbury, and
was introduced today by Mr.. Manley of Au-
gusta. The bill provides that the income
paying funds of the Society shall not be vol
unfairly reduced so that the principal there
OF shall be less than $4,000, and that the
knowing or intended reduction of the funds
below the sum shall be embezzlement; and
that the Society shall not have power to con-
tract debts which shall at any time in the
aggregate exceed the surplus over $4,000 of
Its Income paying funds; and that the cabi-
net, library, cases and furniture shall be ex-
empt from attachment and safe from debts
and that no part of these shall be taken or
sold for debt This act, if passed, will take
ceept it at meeting for which special notice
has been given.
The Portland School for the Deaf.
Miss Barton, who is at the head of the
Portland School for the Deaf, has been in
Augusta to-day to see the State Treasurer in
relation to the appropriation for her school.
The State makes a general appropriation for
deaf dumb ani blind This appropriation is
shared by Miss Barton's School, by the Per-
kins institution of Boston and by the Hart
ford School. The Portland School drew
about $4,000 in 1886, and $1,000 for the first
half OF 1886. But when she sent in her bill
for the last half Of 1886, she found that there
was no money left of the appropriation, as
the other two schools have taken it all. She
is anxious that in future definite appro-
priation be made for the Portland School, to
prevent the embarrassment which follows a
situation like the present.
Captain shaw's Old chum.
When Capt. Shaw presided at the Lewis
ton convention last summer, the great cattle
buyer, l. c. Libby of Burnham, was a dele
gate: II knew had seen that man BEFORE"
said Mr.. Libby to-day in telling of it." but
couldn't place him. When we chose our
seats this winter found that he had seat
very near me. couldn't keep my eyes off of
him, and he kept eying me pretty sharp.
Finally he came over to my seat and said,
Libby, used to know man named Dan
Libby at the old Hampden Academy, and
you make me think of him." / told him that
my name was l. c. Libby, but | used to go
to Hampden Academy. was there in 1859,
who belonged to a certain debating club.
Then he grabbed my hand and shouted,
You are the man Libby" They say now
that II Captain Shaw wants Libby's "pull,"
which is considerable one, he can be pretty
sure to get it without asking
Some Important Hearings.
About week from Wednesday, probably,
President Hyde of Bowdoin College, and
eminent clergymen of the State will appear
before the committee on legal affairs to ask
for an act raising the age of consent to 1s
years.
About the same time, Hon. Neal Dow, rep.
resentatives of the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union and of the Good Templars
will appear before the committee on temper
ance to ask for an Increase of penalty for the
first offence, for the passage OF the cider BILL
and for additional legislation which they
think necessary for suppressing the liquor
traffic, 1t is said that the temperance COM
mittee are anxious to hear Gen. Dow.
The Social Season Begins.
Yesterday square envelopes were dis
tributed to several Of the legislators, and
towards evening it was whispered that
number had been invited to a sociable in the
Uniyersalist church. Among these FORUM
ates were two gentlemen, Messrs. Y. and Y,
whose full names it is not necessary to give,
as they are not ambitious of social honors,
AS the time drew near for the sociable to
begin they started up State street, coming
soon to large building, the basement win
dows of which were all aglow with light.
Here evidently was the church with its
yestry, and the two members hastened to
enter. The door did not fly open with hos
pitable greeting, so our legislators began to
knock. After some time the door was eau
tiously opened, but not to reveal the ga ieties
OF a church Sociable; the large and ecclesi-
astlcal looking building was Kennebec Jail
and the two legislators were pounding at the
cook room door.
The story, when told today, recalled to the
mind OF q we'll known Kennebec lawyer an
incident that happened during war time. A
Representative from very remote town
landed in Augusta and inquired for the State
House. Some wag directed him across the
river to the arsenal. The Representative
made all haste to the place, and entering the
principal building, said to an officer in
charge: "Well, / suppose l belong here"
We'll, II you do, put your name on that
roll,"' said the officer, and he enlisted him
Proposed Amendments to the Stat
ute.
Mr.. Fogg will today report favorably from
the committee on legal affairs his bill relating
to liens on animals. 1t amends the Revised
Statutes so that Sec. Al, Chap. 81. shall read
as follows:
WhoeYer pastures, feeds or shelters animals by
virtue OF contract with, or by consent of the
owner, has a lien thereon for the amount due for
such pasturing, feeding or sheltering, to secure
payment thereof with costs, to be enforced in the
same manner as liens on goods in possession and
chooses in action.
Now the Statutes provide that such liens
shall be enforced in the same manner as liens
on goods and personal baggage are enforced
by innholders or keepers of boarding houses.
By curious codifcation of statutes it hap
pens that now the law for innholders is that
they shall hold the goods for six months and
then advertise for 30 days. So If wander
ing animal comes upon mans premises and
is held for keeping and shelter, the man must
keep the beast six months and advertise him
thirty days before he can getadamages. Mr..
Eopp'S amendment is intended In do auyo,-